Hi Mr. Kalman,

I attended your workshop in Denver last summer.  After working for years with bullies in schools and believing that victims had no power to do anything, I got a wake up call.  A 12 year old girl came in to see me (I am a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice) after a year of being picked on by her "friends".  I tried everything in my toolbox: encouraging her to get her friends to take a stand against bullying. Wow!  After one year, I have a hard time remembering all the techniques I pulled out in that hour. At the end, once she had rejected everything I had to offer, I asked, "What do you want me to help you with?"  She responded, "I want you to help me be different so I don't get teased."  "I don't know how to help you with that," was all I could come up with. 
Not a week later, I got your flier.  It was not unlike the five or so that I get every week, advertising an array of continuing education opportunities.  But this one offered something I knew I didn't have.
Thank you!  I have used your techniques myself, with children as young as four, with adults, siblings, coworkers, students.  When properly explained, they make sense to people and when demonstrated, they make even more sense. My clients have so much fun relating their successes in later sessions!

Sincerely, Sonja Bogumill

I recently attended one of your seminars on bullying. I was thoroughly impressed. Actually, I have understood much of the psychology behind what  I was dealing with, but didn't seem to have the backup I needed from most of the 'experts' out there on bullying. I have since worked with 2 students and the results were immediate and positive. 

Susan Kavich, Principal, Three Rivers School, Channahon, IL

 

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While teaching anger management I often refer to your material. My clients are always that the simple technique works. I was at the New Orleans, LA seminar and was the "guinea pig" for your technique...and no, my husband and I no longer argue about the dog, or the poop. Izzy, thanks you did a super job of easing tensions in my marriage and my life.  Lou Anna, New Orleans, LA

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Again, I am so excited about how quickly your techniques when taught to kids makes a real difference for them.  I just had a parent pop her head in my office yesterday and said, "I don't know what it is you are doing with Charis but she is so much happier with herself ..."Mari Kay Reinheimer, Seymour, IN         

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I am still sharing your teaching from January's seminar with my teachers and parents. It has helped

me greatly as a Principal. It is helping my teachers, and parents!! Education is a wonderful thing! Two

days after your seminar in January, two 4th graders were sent to my office for rough housing, angrily.

One boy was a repeat, repeat, repeat offender. I used your role playing technique with them, and it

has worked wonders with him and the other kids too. The repeat offender had been sent to my office

at least once a week last semester. Now, it has been almost three months since he has been sent to

my office. I just heard today though that he has started picking on my 1st graders. I guess it doesn't

work on the 4th and 5th graders anymore. I have "hipped many of them" to how to respond in such

situations. :) Thanks again for your truth. Keep telling it! Tracy Lewis, Tulsa, Oklahoma 

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Dear Izzy, I recently attended your seminar in Phoenix. In my 20+ year career in education, that was by far the best, most informative and enjoyable seminar I’ve ever attended. Finally, common sense. I’ve changed my whole outlook as a school counselor, and I’ve also started taking a look at my own victim behavior. Thank you very much.

Tom McGoldrick, Ajo, Arizona

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Dear Izzy, I went to your anger workshop five or more years ago (I’ll always remember your singing!), and have enjoyed your newsletters ever since then. My appreciation for you continues to grow. I’m a psychotherapist in an employee assistance program and see people of all ages. I have referred a multitude of parents, kids and other humans to your website, and am always confident that I am giving them a sound and valuable lead. Thanks for sharing your knowledge so freely. I value your opinion. Your gifts make the world a better place, and I trust the momentum is moving toward a paradigm change for the better for all of humanity. All this is to say thank you for the contribution you’ve made to my life, and to wish you a bodacious day, every day. Peace and joy!

Candace Glass

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I've been to two of Izzy's workshops. I have begun using the rules he teaches in my home with my husband and son. It has been amazing how much quicker real problems are getting solved and how much more laughter there is in our relationships. I never realized how my anger was like a big fish waiting to bite on their hooks. At first, my husband thought I was going crazy and he really tried baiting me for a good argument. I kept applying the rules of the game and now it has become much easier to listen to criticism as well as to say how I truly feel. My anger was ruining my ability to love in a truly authentic way. I had become so obsessed with being right all the time or defending myself. It feels more honest and authentic to refuse to get angry while listening to my best friend. It is endearing and disarming all at once. Thank you, Izzy. I'm no longer at war with my spouse.

Lee Austin, May 1st 2008

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Izzy,

I just wanted to jot down a quick email to say thank you for a great seminar. I have been to many seminars, and have felt smarter after many of them. However, I find I have rarely if ever felt wiser. During and after your seminar, I got the distinct impression that not only did I gain some knowledge but also gained wisdom. I find this a rare, and undervalued thing in our profession and society. And interestingly, I find that people tend to feel very strongly about the application of wisdom, both positively and negatively which it sounds like has been your experience with your approach. In working with clients (both adults and children), I have found myself recommending similar things, but have not had a cohesive understanding or language to help me in that process. Now I feel like I do. I also really liked the sociological concepts of the emotional welfare state and raising emotional marshmallows (I think that was the term). It is certainly a frightening and at times a demoralizing trend that I see in the families I work with. Thanks again, and keep up the great work.

Jon Jon A. Bergeron, Jr., Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Scott & White Clinic .College Station, TX

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Dear Mr. Kalman,

I attended your Tulsa, OK workshop this summer. The Bullies to Buddies approach was implemented in our school at the beginning of the school year. The program definately brought about a difference in the atmosphere of the school. The "victims" feel empowered and able to handle their own problems. The students are also getting along better and their self-esteem has risen! Thank you for teaching us these valuable life skills.

Sincerely, Jennifer Harris 4th Grade Teacher St. Andrew School

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Hi Izzy, This is Fran. I went home and used some of your tools with grandson Corey. I apologized for my anger and how I have been responding to him. He accepted and got up this morning by himself and went to school on time.

Fran Cummings, MFT Diamond Bar, Ca

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Just a quick note to let you know that I attended your workshop on Anger Control Made Easy in Tulsa OK this past year.  Ever since attending your workshop I have been utilizing your approach in teaching my clients how to control their own since of anger by controlling other people's anger.  I have utilized it with individual and with couples.  I have integrated your approach in with my own version of therapy where I focus on my client's processes for creating the kind of lives they are living.  The outcomes that I am observing are wonderful and incredible.  The changes that are being made in people's lives are significant and lasting.  Marriages have improved dramatically with only one to two sessions.  Your workshop was the most important and significant training I have ever attended.  Please accept my most sincere thanks for the very valuable work that you have done and for your sharing your understanding of the process by which anger is escalated and deescalated via the biological and natural processes.  

Thanks so much and best wishes in your future endeavors.

Clay Langley, L.C.S.W.

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I am the one and only school social worker for a school district of 6 schools, k-12, and I attended your seminar on anger control a couple weeks ago in the Detroit area.  I used your booklet and your website to develop my own condensed one page outline for guiding myself as I run class, group, and individual sessions (I made sure to site you and your website as the source of all the info and principles on the outline).  I ran a session for the first time today in a 5th grade class that has been especially problematic, and it was very enjoyable.  the kids had a really good time and the principles played out in the role plays picture perfect.  The principles also proved their worth when kids gave the what if's during discussion.  Your logic and principles seem to be solid in theory and practice based upon the conference and now the real test in the field.  If the kids will actually take to heart the lesson and implement the principles, they will surely benefit.  Your conference was really excellent.  I will surely recommend others to attend your conferences and to visit your website.

Thanks, Aaron Kittredge, SSW

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I work as a health educator for a not for profit health care agency that deals specifically with sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, so I don't have to deal, generally, with your target audience.

However, I must add, after attending your course, in Schaumburg, IL three years ago, I gained a lot of expertise in an quality which heretofore, I lacked. Namely, PATIENCE. In that regard your fine course was a boon to my ability to hear without bias, listen objectively and act more inteligently. And for that, I sincerely thank you. Keep up the good work you are doing.

Sincerely,

Howard Mirsky, Pharm B.

“Very good. Makes much more sense than what we’ve been doing!” – School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)

“I really appreciate the info. It was practical and makes good sense. I also appreciate the role play – they really helped demonstrate the lessons in action.” - School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)

“Excellent – I will look forward to sharing this info with my colleagues and students.” - School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)

“Brilliant, insightful and illuminating! The most helpful workshop on bullying I have attended. Thanks!” School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)

“Thank you for looking at this problem in a different way.” - School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)

“Love the paradigm shift. Am anxious to put concepts in place.” - School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)

“Your presentation was great! It really gave me what I need to help my students effectively! Thanks.” - School Counselor, ASCA Convention, Dallas, Texas (6.28.09)